1WD has proven sufficient for the modest offroad or off pavement trail riding that I do, with reverse enough to get me out of bad spots, and with a knobbie installed in the rear position (if I have the forethought to do that).

That said, if I had a 2WD machine, I would likely make it a point to seek out situations where it would be necessary to use it and I would enjoy it simply because it's cool. For my riding, it is not a necessity.

1WD has proven sufficient for the modest offroad or off pavement trail riding that I do, with reverse enough to get me out of bad spots, and with a knobbie installed in the rear position (if I have the forethought to do that).

That said, if I had a 2WD machine, I would likely make it a point to seek out situations where it would be necessary to use it and I would enjoy it simply because it's cool. For my riding, it is not a necessity.

How dare you be so "churlish"?!!!? Your answer is prolly the only one that fits 99% of sidecar people. 2wd for most is like "needing" a BMW R1200GSA to get you to Starbucks.

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How dare you be so "churlish"?!!!? Your answer is prolly the only one that fits 99% of sidecar people. 2wd for most is like "needing" a BMW R1200GSA to get you to Starbucks.

Howdy Strong Bad,

Sir, I dare say it is most churlish of you to write so disparagingly of those who need a BMW R1200GSA to navigate the cruel, one could say relentlessly dangerous streets alongside of which most starbucks are located. In future please refrain from such assaults on those who desperately need such a high tech machine to survive the horrible road conditions in the major cities of our planet.

I think there is some level of BS, err, confusion in this whole debate, when discussing any sort of off pavement riding.

To the question of whether it is better to have 2wd or not ... of course it is better.
To the question of whether it is better to have reverse or not ... of course it is better.

I think for people to say that 2wd or reverse isn't needed is a little churlish. If there were a 2wd / reverse system out there that cost a couple of hundred bucks, that we could bolt to our bikes in twenty minutes and that didn't mess up our rig's other qualities, we would all have one.

The problem is that there is really only one viable option for getting these capabilities and the debate of whether people are prepared to 'put up with' the perceived shortcomings of the Russian solution is a subject for an entirely different thread.

So Claude, when you come up with a $200 2wd and reverse solution for the R100, sign me up!

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBRider

I've never ridden a bike with a sidecar, but have a growing interest in getting one soon. Been riding motorcycles since the early 1970s. I'm thinking about a Ural, primarily because they have a reverse gear. I don't want to start another debate over the reliability or maintenance requirements of a Ural, there are plenty of threads here on that subject. I can handle working on my own bike.

What I am not sure of is how important 2 wheel drive is. I'll be riding a lot of small county roads, many will be dirt/gravel, but not real steep or rocky. Also I will occasionally head out to the Big Bend area. I think a reverse gear is important, but how about 2 wheel drive? Will I regret getting a hack with single drive?

Any input is appreciated...

A coupla lowly 1-wheel drives...

To once again answer the OP's original question:

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvilClown

Not very and no.

Momentum is your friend. With the conditions you describe, even that won't be necessary.

I've never ridden a bike with a sidecar, but have a growing interest in getting one soon. Been riding motorcycles since the early 1970s. I'm thinking about a Ural, primarily because they have a reverse gear. I don't want to start another debate over the reliability or maintenance requirements of a Ural, there are plenty of threads here on that subject. I can handle working on my own bike.

What I am not sure of is how important 2 wheel drive is. I'll be riding a lot of small county roads, many will be dirt/gravel, but not real steep or rocky. Also I will occasionally head out to the Big Bend area. I think a reverse gear is important, but how about 2 wheel drive? Will I regret getting a hack with single drive?

Yes your video shows how one wheel drive can go pretty darn good, WHEN your moving and have momentum working for you.

However if for whatever reason you had to get started half way up such hilly or slippery terrain even if you could get moving again in one wheel drive you would find it MUCH easier to do with two wheel drive.

And thats the other thing folks seem to be over looking when it comes to the use of two wheel drive, used within the design envelope of the machine its a heck of a lot easier on the machine and the rider to use two wheel drive to over come some obstacles then it is to ride these same terrain elements if done in one wheel drive.

Yes your video shows how one wheel drive can go pretty darn good, WHEN your moving and have momentum working for you.

However if for whatever reason you had to get started half way up such hilly or slippery terrain even if you could get moving again in one wheel drive you would find it MUCH easier to do with two wheel drive.

And thats the other thing folks seem to be over looking when it comes to the use of two wheel drive, used within the design envelope of the machine its a heck of a lot easier on the machine and the rider to use two wheel drive to over come some obstacles then it is to ride these same terrain elements if done in one wheel drive.

No argument from me. Just answering the original questions and did mention in my replies that with a Ural - 1 or 2 wheel drive - momentum is your friend.

This is one of the six videos I have posted concerning the 2009 Moab Ural gathering. Many times in these videos I will purposely go slow when going up or down rough stuff to give a much better idea of how nasty some of this stuff is, this happens in the first part of this video.

Fast forward to about 4:45 in the video you will see one of the rigs is in ONE wheel drive and slows down because of the rough roads and rocks, he has a hell of a time getting going again and is passed by a couple of other rigs who are in two wheel drive, you can tell they are in two wheel drive as watch close and you can see both the pusher and the sidecar wheel kick dirt to get and keep moving. I forget the riders name but you can see once he shifts into two wheel drive he has no problem getting going again.

Like has been said and I agree, two wheel drive is not needed but it sure comes in handy even when doing semi-sane rough road riding as this video proves. It was about a three mile climb from the bottom to the top of these switch-backs, its on such terrain that its a heck of a lot easier on the rig to just put it in two wheel drive at the bottom and leave it there till you've reached the top.

Deep sand is the only time I use 2wd, and even rarely in deep sand. And in off-roading, you'd be amazed at how easy it is to use a ratchet strap as a winch. Reverse is never really needed, but it definitely makes parking easier.

Sent from the voices in my head and transcribed by their drinking buddy.

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Sir, I dare say it is most churlish of you to write so disparagingly of those who need a BMW R1200GSA to navigate the cruel, one could say relentlessly dangerous streets alongside of which most starbucks are located. In future please refrain from such assaults on those who desperately need such a high tech machine to survive the horrible road conditions in the major cities of our planet.

I agree completely with Mr. Cob. I would not attempt the half mile journey to my local Starbucks without a BMW GSA. Since I don't own a GSA I have to take my Humvee.